Interchangeable sign



July A. PORSTNER ET AL INTERCHANGEABLE 5 IGN Filed Oct. 10, 1928 F m wummw PILL A5 flnton P0135177 er Peter Ross/n00.

ATTORNEY Patented July 15, 1930 UNITED STATES earner INTERCHANGEABLE SIGN Application filed October 10, 1928. Serial No. 311,537.

This invention relates to certain novel im provements in interchangeable signs, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly efficient in use and economical in manufacture.

It is among the objects of our invention to provide an interchangeable sign which will be of the desk type which is used to display 113 names of individuals or other analogous information. It has been the custom in the prior art to manufacture such signs from one piece of material and obviously when their usefulness had ended it was customary to destroy the sign which was an expense inasmuch as it is desirable to have these signs arranged so as to be artistic and of pleasing aesthetic appearance. We, therefore, have arranged a desk sign in which the indicia may be ar- 26 ranged such that it may be removed and-replaced when so desired.

nnother object of our invention is to provide a novel means for retaining the indicia in the sign.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel means for arranging the indicia so as to disclose. predetermined information.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of elements to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing 35 wherein a preferred form of construction is shown, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a preferred form of construction for our device; Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the 40 mechanism as disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental rear elevational view of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line ii of Fig. 3;

45 Fig. 5 is a detail view depicting the manner in which the indicia is held in a pre-determined arrangement; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view drawn to an enlarged scale taken substantially on the 5 line 66 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein we have illustrated a preferred form of construction for our device, 10 generically indicates the main body portion of our improved sign. A border 11 is provided on the front face of the main body portion 10 and the area 1:2 inclosed by the body 11 is preferably deg'iressed below the level of the rim and if desired, this area 12 may be stippled or otherwise arranged to increase the aesthetic appearance thereof. The body portion 10 is supported in an inclined plane as clearly illustrated in 2 and a suitable easel construction 13 is provided which has pads 14 thereon that are connected to the main body portion 10 through the medium of screws and other analogous devices. The lower edge of the main body portion 10 and the foot portion 1 of the easel 15 are arranged at an angle so as to properly engage the support on which the sign is mounted.

On the area 12an opening 16 is provided which is surrounded by a rim or border 17. Til-tile present instance a web 18 extends across the opening 16 in juxtaposition to one end thereof as to divide said opening into two spaces, for a purpose of to be made apparent presently. The indicia conveying the information is mounted in the opening 16 in the manner now to be set forth. In order to arrange the indicia in pre-determined order so as to convey any desired in formation, we provide plurality of relatively fiat body members On'one surface of these body members we arrange the indicia as for example in'Fig. 5, the numeral 7 is arranged on one surface of the body members 19 while the hand indicated by 20 is arranged on the other of-the body members 19 and it is readily apparent that said body members are made of a width proportionate to the requirements of the width of the indicia. Certain of the body members are not provided with indicia and these are employed as spacers so as to properly space the hereinbefore mentioned indicia. A clamping strip 21is provided which has lugs 22 provided along the edges thereof. The body members 19 are arranged in the desired order on the clamping plate 21and the lugs 21 are then bent over the edges of the body members 19 so as to clamp the same in position and lug members 23 are provided at the ends of the body member 21 to retain the lugs in position.

Behind the rim 17 and around the opening 16 and arranged to open into the rear side of the body member 10 is a recess portion 24 which provides a shoulder 25. The strips 26 which numeral generically indicates the strips formed from the body members 19 and the strips 21 are arranged so as to bear against this shoulder 25. In the present instance, one of these strips extends from one end of the opening 16 to the web 18 and the other of these strips extends from the web 18 to the other end of the opening 16. On the rear side of the body member 10 a plate member 27 is secured which is of greater width than the web 18. Retaining strips 28 and 29 are provided which extend between the ends of the openings 16 and the web member 18 and which are arranged so as to have end portions extending below the plate 27. At the end of the strip 29 disposed opposite the web 18 an offset portion 30 is provided. This offset portion 30 provides a shoulder 31 that engages one end of the opening 16 and the portion 30 includes a section which engages the rear sine of the body member 10 beyond the extent of the opening 16. Pivotally mounted as at 32 on the rear side of the body member 10 is alatch member 33 which has a notch 84 provided therein that engages the pin 35, fixed on the rear side of the body 10 in juxtaposition to the pivotal mounting 82. In this manner, the plate 29 is securely locked in position so as to retain one of the strips 26 in position. A handle portion 36 is provided on the latch 33 to facilitate movement thereof. A similar arrangement is provided at the outer end of the strip 28 and therefore, the other of the strips 26 is securely held in position.

The interchangeable sign described herein is particularly adapted for use in business institutions such as banking houses wherein it is frequently desirable to direct patrons to different windows or the like. For this reason two of the strips 26 are provided as the smaller one may be changed at difierent times so as to direct patrons to different windows. When it is desired to use other of the strips 26 to convey other information, it is readily apparent from the foregoing description that the same may be removed and replaced with any desired indicia.

While we have described the web 18 as being formed intermediate the ends of the opening 16 it is to be understood that said web may be dispensed with and in this instance the construction associated therewith for holding the retaining strips would then be associated with the rear side of the body 10 at the opening 16.

WVhile we have illustrated and described as v 1,770,803

the preferred form of construction for carry ing our invention into effect this is capable of variations and modifications without departing from the purview of our invention. IVe, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scopeof the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

In a device of the class described, a main body having an elongated opening therein, a flange adjacent one surface of said main body extending into said opening providing a shoulder, a plurality of flat bodies having indicia on one of the faces thereof, a clampingplate having lugs thereon, said fiat bodies being disposed-on said clamping plate with the lugs thereon bent over said flat bodies to retain said flat bodies on said clamping plate, a retaining strip, said clamping plate being disposed in said elongated opening with said retaining strip positioned therebehind,means for securing said retaining strip in position, said last named means including a member secured to the rear side of said main body and including a portion extended over said opening whereby an end portion of said retaining strip may be disposed therebelow, and a re leasable latch member at the other end of said retaining strip including a portion movable over said retaining strip.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

PETER ROSSMAN. ANTON PORSTNER. 

